A Progress Report on Chelsea's Summer Signings

Chelsea let three times as many players leave Stamford Bridge as they brought in during the summer transfer window, per the Premier League website. The frugality that Financial Fair Play necessitates saw them lay out a net spend of just £10 million, per The Guardian, as Jose Mourinho refined the squad to fit his plans.

Any other team losing its all-time top scorer, three strikers, a potential captain and a world-class left-back would be expected to struggle, but Chelsea are flying high at the top of the Premier League—largely because of the impact that the summer signings have had on the squad.

All statistics from WhoScored.com.

Didier Drogba

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Didier Drogba’s return to Stamford Bridge was one of the most romantic stories of the summer. Having left the club in 2012 after securing the Champions League trophy with his no-nonsense penalty, Drogba’s stints in China and Turkey yielded mixed results. Many people believed that this signing was driven by sentimentality, as at 36 years old the Ivorian could not possibly match his previous form for the club.

Any concerns about him damaging his legacy were allayed when injuries to Diego Costa and Loic Remy handed him an extended run in the side in October. Drogba scored three goals in three games, including a towering header against Manchester United. While the Ivorian is unlikely to play more than a supporting role this season, Jose Mourinho has said that he will have a job for life at the club, per Jason Burt of The Telegraph.

Filipe Luis

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Filipe Luis’ opportunities have mostly been restricted to the Champions League as Cesar Azpilicueta has continued his dominance at left-back in the league. However, the Brazilian has not allowed this to affect his form, as he has completed 20 tackles in the competition (second only to Nemanja Matic).

Though he is unlikely to get a good run in the league while Branislav Ivanovic and Azpilicueta continue to perform at their current levels, contributions could help him capture the Champions League winner’s medal that he so narrowly missed out on last season.

Loic Remy

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Loic Remy’s season so far has been hampered by a combination of injury and Costa’s form. Despite only making five appearances so far—three of which have come from the bench—the Frenchman has still managed to score twice. He opened his account on his debut, completing the 4-2 rout of Swansea City. He also scored the first goal of the 6-0 victory over NK Maribor.

Remy returned to action against West Bromwich Albion and will be hoping to get more game time as the festive fixture list begins to pile up.

Cesc Fabregas

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So much of the conversation about what Chelsea needed this summer revolved around a striker. However, Cesc Fabregas has arguably had more of an impact on the side than Diego Costa. Though he was essentially brought in to fill Frank Lampard’s role as the midfield maestro, Fabregas’ form in the first half of the season has left Arsenal fans wondering why Arsene Wenger refused his first option to sign him.

In 12 Premier League starts Fabregas has scored once and assisted a further 10 goals, completing an average of 3.2 key passes per game. He has been the Blues’ most dynamic player with only 107 of his 1031 attempted passes failing to find their man. His vision and accuracy has brought an extra dimension to Chelsea’s game, and the way he has linked up with Costa would give even the most hardened cynic pause for thought about the existence of telepathy.

Diego Costa

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Unlike Chelsea’s last marquee striker, Diego Costa has not been burdened by his £32 million price tag. Despite carrying a hamstring injury for most of the season so far, the Spanish centre-forward has scored 11 goals in 10 appearances in the Premier League, averaging 3.2 shots per game. His strength, skill and ability to squeeze into space has given Chelsea’s attacking midfielders the outlet that they have been desperately looking for—and he has yet to let his temper get the best of him.

After so long without a reliable goalscorer, Chelsea fans would forgive him for avoiding his defensive duties. However, Costa has still managed to make eight tackles and 12 clearances in his ten appearances, proving that he is the perfect striker for Mourinho’s team.